Paraguay, who still has the Indigenous language of Guarani as a national language along with Spanish, continues to face significant economic and educational challenges, with over 24% of its population living in poverty1. Secondary education completion rates remain among the lowest in Latin America, with only about 63% of students finishing high school2. These challenges are especially severe in rural and indigenous communities, where schools are often overcrowded and underfunded. The illiteracy rate among the Indigenous population is 40%, compared with 5.1% for the non‑Indigenous populations3. This limits young people’s opportunities, keeping these families trapped in the cycles of poverty and hurting the country’s long-term development.
In the Paraneña region, which lies between the Paraguay and Paraná rivers, indigenous communities face persistent barriers to accessing quality education. About 74% of Indigenous children live in poverty, which limits their ability to stay in school and succeed academically4. While about 70% of Indigenous communities have access to a local school, many suffer from overcrowded classrooms and a lack of basic resources, which leads to high dropout rates – only 14 out of every 100 Indigenous children reach the 6th grade5. Without sufficient support and space, students in these neighborhoods often miss out on learning opportunities, which keeps them behind in all aspects of life. This makes it difficult for children to complete their education and improve their futures.
To address these urgent needs, HXP Builders will construct two new classrooms at a public school in the Paraneña region, specifically designed to serve overcrowded schools that have historically been neglected. These new classrooms will expand the school’s capacity, enabling more children to attend and benefit from a safe and supportive learning environment. It will also help to provide a place for afterschool programs to take place. There is currently a political battle between non-profits and government funding over education, but by improving the access to quality education, HXP Builders look to give these students and their families chances to break the cycle of poverty and build a brighter, more hopeful future for their community.
Sources:
2 UNESCO
3 UNSR
4 IWGIA
5 CIDH